Someone did just that the night of April 27 when a thief swiped the rear license plate off his 1994 Honda Civic while it was parked overnight in front of his Washington Street residence. He did not notice the plate was missing until he arrived at work Monday.

Carsten, 24, of Rockford, is one of a growing number of people over the past two years to fall victim to license plate theft.

The crime spiked 191 percent in the past two years. There were 70 reported incidents in 2012, and the number jumped to 204 in 2013, according to records obtained from the Rockford Police Department through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Through late April 2013, Rockford police had received reports of 78 license plate thefts. Through the same time frame this year, 79 such thefts occurred, Rockford Police Lt. Pat Hoey said.

Only 35 of the 204 license plates stolen in 2013 were recovered.

And police aren’t sure why this type of theft is occurring more frequently, Hoey said.

One possible reason: higher gasoline prices. As the price at the pump hovers around $4 per gallon, police said it’s not unusual for a criminal to put the stolen plates on his or her vehicle, fill up a tank of gas, and leave without paying.

The thief has not only stolen gasoline but also the identity of the owner of the missing plates.

Secretary of State Police Lt. Kirk Hooks offered several other reasons why license plates may suddenly be a hot commodity.

“You could speculate that criminals are stealing them to put on stolen cars,” he said.

Criminals also steal plates, he said, to avoid paying the annual $101 license plate sticker fee. And some use stolen plates to pass through toll plazas without paying.

Just as you would immediately contact your credit card issuer if your wallet is stolen — to avoid being liable for unauthorized purchases — Hooks said it is important that motorists immediately contact police if their plates are stolen to help avoid being liable for toll charges and subsequent fines.

The local Secretary of State Office charges $29 to replace two license plates with a sticker.

License plate theft has yet to become a major issue in the jurisdiction of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department, which also patrols Machesney Park. Through the first four months of the year , 25 license plate thefts had been reported, Sheriff Dick Meyers said.

Regardless of where you live, residents should follow these tips to guard against license plate theft at all times.

If parking in a garage isn’t an option, motorists are advised to park in well-lit areas at night.

Hooks also said motorists can make it more time-consuming, if not difficult, for a criminal by securing their plates with a license plate frame locking kit or using special screws that require a screw driver to put the plates on but a special tool to take them off.

Police said criminals fleeing in vehicles with stolen plates don’t take license plates for granted, and neither should you.

“People need to be cognizant of their plates,” Hooks said. “Make sure they are still there.”